29 cars damaged, man injured as fire hydrant falls

Residents said such an incident could have caused several fatalities

The incident took place in the parking basement, said residents.(Picture for representation)

The Parksite police have registered a case against a well-known builder and a contractor after a 2km-long fire hydrant malfunctioned and fell on cars in the parking lot of Address Complex in Ghatkopar around 6.30am on Saturday.

A watchman was injured and 29 cars damaged in the incident.

Residents said such an incident could have caused several fatalities.

An eye-witness searching for injured people found a watchman crushed below the pipes. The watchman, Ankush Vittal Gole, was admitted to Rajawadi Hospital. Though he sustained injuries on his head, hands and legs, the hospital declared him to be ‘out of danger’.

“The residential complex is just a year old. The hydrant still malfunctioned and fell. This means that the builder compromised on its quality. Our car was damaged,” Kailash Daultani, a resident of the complex, told HT.

“The incident took place in the parking basement - level two. People could have lost their lives. We asked the police to charge the accused with negligence, but they refused,” Daultani added.

“We have registered a case and started inquiries. The residents said it is the builder’s fault. We will question the builder, the contractor, and the fire brigade officials,” said investigating officer, assistant police inspector Vijay Jadhav, Parksite police.

The police registered a case under sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.